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Man of the day

Chris Rogers' old-school approach set up the game for Australia on day one at the Adelaide Oval

Last Updated: 05/12/13 11:38pm

The lack of pace in the drop-in pitch at the Adelaide Oval meant it was largely a day of attrition for batsmen and bowlers alike and, in opener Chris Rogers, Australia had just the man for the job.

At 36, Rogers is always a couple of low scores away from his place in the side coming under scrutiny and a pair of failures in the series opener in Brisbane, where Stuart Broad dismissed him in both innings, meant he needed a response.

His 121-run stand for the second wicket with Shane Watson made sure Australia made a strong start after winning the toss and getting first use of friendly conditions.

Rogers' technique against the fast bowlers was exemplary, leaving anything outside off-stump and playing late in defence.

He frustrated England's seamers into offering him width and, when they did, unleashed cuts and cover drives to take advantage of the short square boundaries.

Rogers hit 11 fours, nine of them through the off-side, in his 167-ball 72 and had done all the hard work before giving away the chance of a second Test hundred.

The left-hander looked uncomfortable against spinner Graeme Swann, a bowler who dismissed him six times in England earlier this year and got him again today, caught behind having an ugly poke outside off-stump.

What made it even worse for Rogers was that it came in the over after Watson had gifted England his wicket by driving a return catch to James Anderson.

That gave the tourists an opening they didn't really deserve and, with Australia going on to reach the stumps on 273-5, it was honours even at the close.